Dengeki PlayStation this week has a two-page interview with Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo on the company’s recently announced PlayStation 3 and PS Vita role-playing game sequel The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki.

Here’s the bullet summary:

It’s been about a year since Falcom started working in 3D graphics. The staff that has been working in pixel art up to now is building 3D tools.

Though it’s 3D, their pixel art know-how still shines through.

There is a lot of enthusiasm around the project.

They’re putting all of their strength into the project. It’s the only all-new game they’re releasing in 2013.

They’re hoping it will help Falcom step up their image.

The game’s setting is the Empire of Erebonia.

The time period is still under wraps, but they want to depict a period after Sora, Zero, and Ao.

The image of the title Sen no Kiseki is meant to depict the flash of the arc the hero’s sword carves in the darkness.

The big war in the empire that has been alluded to previously will actually occur.

The four characters they’ve introduced up to now are protagonists, but they are not the only ones.

They gathered the nine illustrators on the project together for a specific reason.

The “Tactics Link System:” up until now, players have fought while judging the distance between themselves and their enemy, but it ends up with them spending a lot of time “waiting and watching.” Now players will be able to enjoy that time actively.

While the characters move around, you have to constantly be thinking about what actions and links to use.

“I think we’ve achieved battles with no time to rest.”

“Active Voice” will be used not only during events and battles, but characters will also chat according to conditions as you travel across the world map.

There is a cooperative action with companions that have weapons called “Orbments.”

You won’t have to wait long for new information. There should be more before it gets warm out.

Dengeki asks: “Will the sale date be in fall when Falcom usually releases new games?” The answer kind of hints that they are planning it, but that it’s still secret.

The main characters have assembled for a certain purpose and are living in the same facility.

The outline is split into four volumes of light novels.

The raiding unit isn’t the Crossbell Police, it’s a new organization.

The series’ familiar organizations, characters, etc. appear, but the idea has changed and a new nuance is established.

Even if certain characters appear, it’s treated like their first appearance in the empire. They become episodes regarding all the past series. Particularly, The Legend of Heroes: Sora no Kiseki The 3rd becomes an episode that double tracks this title, hinting at Crossbell.

The bond events have evolved remarkably, as well as the go around playing.

You can share save data between PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, and there will likely be costume and scenario download content. There is no difference between both versions.

Sounds very good, loving the idea of communication over the world map and such. I see there’s already connections to the other series, I was sort of hoping this one could stand alone mostly.

http://www.facebook.com/JaeWhy SasuleUchiha

Tsundere.

http://www.facebook.com/atlans89 Gale Glory

“They’re putting all of their strength into the project. It’s the only all-new game they’re releasing in 2013.” – Kinda like they will revamp and port old series.

“The time period is still under wraps, but they want to depict a period after Sora, Zero, and Ao.” – As long as this is still unclear, this title might be prequel. Story will uncover the beginning of the war? Sounds nice to me.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm around the project.” – Jeez,Falcom. You shouldn’t keep this to yourself. Share with us and we can call it win-win.

JazzyMan123

Are you really serious about to skipping the plot of the previous 4 games just to get to this title?

http://www.facebook.com/atlans89 Gale Glory

I didn’t mention importing, did I? What nice about RPG is following story and First Chapter is the only title so far I had played. And unfortunately, Japanese is a big no-no to me, though I can catch up with Chinese version.

JazzyMan123

Ah, I see. The Chinese versions are going cheap these days, so you could get those.

http://www.facebook.com/atlans89 Gale Glory

Not quite, at least I can understand what’s going on. But in fact I’m not quite used to Chinese version of most games. The way they translate story and names kinda ruin my impression on the game. Therefore I’m still waiting for English to come out.

Btw, is it me or somehow I felt a certain malice in your comment about me? I supposed I didn’t make any offense against you?

JazzyMan123

“Malice”? No. I just meant that it isn’t recommended to skip to plot of the other games if you want to know what’s going on, that’s all. Sorry if I came across as offensive.

Oh, and about the Chinese version of Zero (not sure about Sora), those who’ve played it said the translation is top-notch, so no worries there.

You can already do this with a few current games. I don’t have any atm, so I can’t tell you how it works, but it doesn’t require PS Plus.

http://twitter.com/Nates4Christ Nate

I have sound shapes and it does this. The game save is transferred through the sound shapes server. So no ps plus is required.

paperclichepixel

Can not freaking wait.

Ramza Beoulve

Now this is a JRPG
Real time battle
Cooperative action
Active Voice love to hear what the party as to say about things
There more but for me this is how JRPG should do there games like :D

http://twitter.com/Nates4Christ Nate

Where did you see Co-op?

KurisuMakise

Let me save Ramza the trouble, here you go Nate: “There is a cooperative action with companions that have weapons called “Orbments.” ” of course this doesn’t mean co-op with other players. Rather, it means there’s Team Attack moves.

http://twitter.com/Nates4Christ Nate

Ah hah I see. Wouldn’t it be cool if it was co-op though? I played Eternal Sonata with two other guys and it was a blast.

KurisuMakise

As did I and yes, it was a blast. They really should consider Co-Op for both these series going forward, especially on the PS Vita side. That stuff freely fuels handheld gaming.

http://twitter.com/Nates4Christ Nate

Nice. Me and my friends used to do imitations of Fredric during the cut scenes from eternal sonata but instead with the creepy old guy voice from Family Guy. It was a little pedifelic he was running around with this little girl. It made the otherwise boring cut scenes much more fun for us. :P

http://www.facebook.com/InternationalGamer1 Christopher Bosak

GEt XSEED to localize and i’ll pre-order at Gamestop ASAP.

PrinceHeir

godly stuff :D

http://twitter.com/Nates4Christ Nate

What’s always nerve racking with finding out if a game is coming over. They usually don’t announce it at big events like E3. It usually just comes out of no where. It seems like the best place to find out for something like that is the playstation blog. They usually have the US ambassador answer question in the comments too. It’s what they did with xilia and many more.

http://twitter.com/RSCL_Turtle Unknown

can’t wait for this game

浪黒雷 (ro-kurorai)

This looks and sounds hot. I hope Falcom can up their game with this game.